Severin

I've sent one in. Hope I've understood the criteria correctly (might be a bit well known)

COTA is great. I doubt anyone would want that dropped. Vegas I'm on the fence about. Hideously ugly location and a boring layout that has produced one entertaining race through extreme conditions and one so-so race last year. If there must be three US races I'd have COTA, and any two from, Laguna Seca, Watkins Glen, Elkhart Lake or Indianapolis infield section in preference to what we have.

It wouldn't be changing the cars just for one track. Hungary, Jeddha, Barcelona, Singapore, Miami, Suzuka, Imola all have problems delivering overtaking. You would improve the racing across the board. As for Monaco, most fans don't hate it though. This poll from last year illustrates that, where it received more votes than a number of supposedly better tracks - https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/vote-choose-your-favourite-f1-race-of-the-2024-season.2uDNoYf45F8umlgablaULv One of the problems the sport is trying to deal with is you have a lot of new viewers onboard (which is great) because of initiatives like DTS, (which is not so great), and there is a disparity to between what the two audiences appreciate in the sport. For many Monaco is a unique challenge and the number of overtakes doesn't determine the interest levels. For others, unless there is overtaking, it isn't worth watching, even though the majority of overtakes these days are DRS assisted and require very little skill. Among fans DRS has long been reviled - https://www.racefans.net/2021/04/03/10-years-of-drs-should-f1-wean-itself-off-push-button-passes/ Imola's track record for overtakes is only marginally better than Monaco's and it has been one of the most welcome returns to the calendar. Hungary is often just as processional. Fix the cars and you fix Monaco. And they're looking at that anyway - https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/f1-already-has-a-2026-monaco-passing-fix-it-could-deploy/ It will always be the toughest for overtaking, of course, but that's not the challenge of the circuit and the tightness of the walls is why it still remains more popular among fans than nearly every other street circuit, that provides neither jeopardy, extreme precision or much overtaking.

For reference the above overtaking stats are from the F1 Overtaking database site and these are the criteria - 'I don't include overtakes on the first lap (or on standing starts after a red flag) as it would misrepresent the total figure for race and also be a nightmare to calculate. The focus is on on-track overtakes for position so I don't include overtakes made while someone is in the pits, when someone has spun or is off track, when someone has a severe reliability problem, lapping and unlapping or through team orders.' It could be argued that Sunday's Monaco race had two overtakes as Bortoleto can claim to have completed the pass on Antonelli before his accident.

To be honest overtaking should never be easy in F1 and if anyone's watching F1 just for the overtakes, they're watching the wrong category of motorsport. I don't have the stats for Sunday's race but last years Indy 500 had 596 on track passes and if you don't like ovals the road course race average in Indy is 150 passes. Monaco though has never been primarily about overtaking and will always be among the harder tracks to pass on but it used to happen so much more and the circuit has barely changed to any major degree. Making the cars smaller alone won't solve all the problems but it's the first obvious step. Weight, downforce and traction are also part of the issue but the size does make a difference. The comparison below shows how large the cars have become just since the '80s. Seeing the 2021 Red Bull up close reveals just how much of a monster it is! Here is the number of on-track passes for the 10 year period of '84-'93 (not via a pit stop or retirement) which covers the turbo and V10 eras 1984 Monaco 22 1985 Monaco 22 1986 Monaco 21 1987 Monaco 16 1988 Monaco 11 1989 Monaco 20 1990 Monaco 11 1991 Monaco 9 1992 Monaco 7 1993 Monaco 31 Total - 170 (average 17) Now compare the last 10 - effectively the hybrid era. 2015 Monaco 10 2016 Monaco 14 2017 Monaco 3 2018 Monaco 4 2019 Monaco 2 2021 Monaco 0 2022 Monaco 13 2023 Monaco 22 2024 Monaco 4 2025 Monaco 1 Total - 73 (average 7) The hybrid engine has necessitated a larger chassis to accommodate the bigger engine and the consequence is cars that are too large for many circuits and for good racing. Thankfully next year sees a step in the right direction.

I don't really know why but it does seem that Monaco has become the sole focus point for the issue of overtaking, as if the ability to pass cars on the track is the only metric for enjoying a race. There are several other circuits were overtaking is very difficult too - Suzuka and Jeddha being obvious examples, and often the ones that do happen are uninspiring DRS moves that bring no excitement. It's true Monaco is trickier to pass on than those but also true that nobody is clamouring to have Suzuka removed, even after the very processional race we had this year. Monaco really should be looked at from a broader perspective as one of the sport's to extreme circuits - Monza has the speed ramped up to the max whilst Monaco is the ultimate challenge in precision and driver skill, so much that the three practice sessions and qualifying are often more entertaining than some races. It seems from repeated polling that the majority of dedicated (as opposed to casual) fans want the circuit to remain on the calendar, not just of its rich history and tradition but for its unique challenge. If that specific criteria is not want you want from F1, well there are 23 other races with something else to offer. Personally, I'd take Monaco over Miami any day. Can the 'show' be improved without diminishing the sporting challenge? I think yes. First they should re-instate Monaco to the full 200 miles. The length was shortened as older cars couldn't complete the distance in two hours. That is and has been achievable with modern cars for years. It would increase the strategic element of tyres without forcing a mandatory extra stop that the teams will just find a way to work around. It would also give a greater challenge to the drivers because as the race goes on the potential for fatigue induced errors or mechanical issues would increase. More importantly, and this applies really to nearly all of the circuits, is that the cars are to big, too cumbersome, too heavy and too stable. Making them shorter and thinner will automatically make create more space on track and create more passing opportunities. Alongside a reduction in weight, you can make the cars more nimble, again allowing for more agility. Combined this with the right tyre options and you have a lighter, faster car that can exploit gaps better, the natural extension of which is better racing. None of these changes should impact on safety however. There's no reason a special lower downforce option couldn't be applied (perhaps to street tracks across the board). Not to take it away entirely but just to give the cars a little less traction. Given the lower speeds at Monaco this doesn't coming with any significant safety risk either but returns the emphasis again to driver ability and can be achieve by just using skinnier wings. Monaco needs to stay but needs the right tweeks to the cars, more than to the circuit. You only had to witness Lando's joy at winning there to see how much the drivers love the challenge and how important it is. TL/DR - Monaco is a unique circuit unlike any other on the calendar that remains popular with a large section of fans. There are plenty of other races if you prefer a different type of challenge to the drivers. Should it be removed? No. Can the racing be improved? Yes.

Rule change didn't work. The solution remains the same as it has been for year. Make the cars smaller and with less downforce.

Always watch this as your always guaranteed excitement and brilliant racing, which is a great contrast to Monaco (although I still love that race). Be nice to see O'Ward or McLaughlin win it.

So we got 25 minutes of The Twilight Zone (It's a Good Life) via Wandavision followed by 20 minutes of one big exposition dump and the whole thing felt like a flat mess just to bring back a bit part player from the classic era whose 1980s revival was underwhelming in the first place. Panjabi was indeed brilliant as The Rani and the two leads continue to perform admirably yet without seeing the finale it's impossible to know if this episode has any meaning. We'll see next week but RTD is not great at sticking the landing in finales. Nice ham gag though.

You do realise that the people who knew who would be charged are not the same people who booked the tour, right? Promoters especially and venues are often lead by the temptation of big sales and don't do their due diligence on the legal aspect behind an individual (Exactly the same thing happened with Ronnie Radkey about a year ago). It's no business of the authorities what he arranges. They're not there to advise him on his personal plans, only to hold him account for his actions when he is available to detain, if need be. Frankly, if a venue is going to risk booking an artist who has a potential legal case hanging over their heads, it;s a risk thay take and they should be aware of it before doing so. Additionally, if a punter decides to buy a ticket for someone under that cloud, then sure you can argue that the promoter or venue is to blame but it's all there in the terms and conditions to cover them, although I do understand most people will buy tickets in good faith, even if that is naive with an individual like Brown. Maybe Brown and his manager should have thought about all of this before he decided to start arranging a tour. I

Interesting. Most fans seem to prefer Scott. It might, in part, be the generally better songs or him being dead though.

Her best known song, probably. She used this whispery, breathy style as she grew up with a stutter and I believe she was trained that way to overcome it. She's not awful or anything, I just really don't like it.

Cilla Black is the right answer here. Also - Suzi Quatro Cher Lloyd Heather Small Axl Rose (not when he sings low though) Yoko Ono Phil Collins Celine Dion Marilyn Monroe Jay Kay And all the 'vocal acrobatics are the best gang' - Whitney, Mariah, etc

Bon Scott or Brian Johnson? Or both?

Nothing for me from this list, this week. Added to my playlists - PROJECTOR - Collision Suede - Disintegrate Velvetine - Just This Once LEMONSUCKRS - H.E.A.T.

Suede are back with news of the next album Antidepressants, due in September. Lead single Disintegrate is out now. This is a comeback I'm onboard with already. Not treading well worn ground and still sounding like the band we know.

I'm disappointed as although I thought Spike Island was mundane, Pulp by numbers and it didn't really grow on me, this I actively dislike.

An oldie but Doctor & The Medics' debut album Laughing at the Pieces was issued in mid '86 and then re-issued with the single Burn added. Burn was the follow up to Spirit in the Sky

I'm hoping for some hilarious tactics and events. Imagine the following Pitting at the end of the formation lap to change tyres and then start from the pitlane. That'll save you a good 20 seconds in the race. Half the grid pits on the end of the first lap, knowing they can likely make up time because they can actually go at speed to catch up. You only need a red flag on the first lap and everyone changes anyway.

Should make the race a more strategic affair if the grid is in any way mixed, which is a possibility with so many rookies and showers forecast for Saturday. Qualifying at Monaco is often the best Saturday of the year. Then afterwards there's the Indy 500 to enjoy.

Enjoyed Die Hard With a Song Contest much more than I expected to. Nothing breaking new ground plot wise but it was a lot less cheesy than I expected and although the tone could have been a lot more serious for me to really like it there were enough moments to keep a decent balance. Given its scheduling right before Eurovision it was pitched about right for that audience. Loved seeing Susan return even (and seemingly in a TARDIS) if I feel more could have been done to focus on The Doctor's state of mind in the build up. Something to show that under all the light hearted, high camp of this incarnation, there still exists a complex and sometimes dark character. But it is a start. More of this please. I liked both the villains and would like to have seen a lot more of Kid. Would have made an interesting companion but I guess attempted mass murder is a step too far. I still very much don't like Bi-generation and have not changed my mind over this one for The Rani - the least surprising plot twist ever. Fair play for her quotng the 4th Doctor though. Nice touch. I would have preferred a whole episode devoted to Mrs Flood, just to really put some flesh on a bare bones character before the new version arrived. Somethng more akin to Derek Jacobi's The Master. Hopefully Archie Panjabi can deliver on a character that, in just three stories (two of which are utter trash), made such an impressive mark via the brilliant Kate O'Mara. Fingers crossed. Lastly, Graham Norton makes his third appearance in the show only this time it was actually intentional.

And Chris Brown alone is responsible for that, not the justice system. They can all sue him for loss of income.

Whilst the Red Bull upgrades looks to have closed the gap, I'm not going to get carried away just yet. Imola is a very Red Bull friendly circuit and Max always goes well there. Adding in the very helpful timing of the SC and VSC it all lined up nicely for him and was pretty much job done once he'd taken the lead in that rather brilliant move. McLaren didn't optimise their potential today either and were unlucky with the yellows too. But if this is a sign of things to come, they need to step it up.

Let's face it, your source is missing every shot.